Tribalism …?

 

I’ve never understood this thing we call tribalism. I have a friend who mentions the idea so often that I decided to delve into the topic. Starting with the definition of tribalism, I realize I know what it is, but I want to understand why we exhibit this tendency. As the Universe would have it, many writings have come my way concerning this phenomenon. Two recent issues of my favorite news magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, have looked at what we have done to indigenous people in our country and neighboring Canada. Then, for no reason other than the title, I chose the audiobook, “The Tender Land” by William Kent Krueger. This beautifully-written book takes us into the lives of young people who were forced into indigenous residential schools. While everything I learn is eye-opening, it doesn’t tell me why we the people exhibit this us-against-them behavior. I’m not sure anything can explain it to me because I’ve never had the desire to be with a certain group of people, and usually haven’t even noticed there are groups. But I have become more aware, in my later life, that many have suffered greatly because of these divisions. And so I will pay attention and put my energies into neutralizing these odd separations we have fostered. Namaste …

“A sense of separation from God is the only lack you really need correct. This sense of separation would never have arisen if you had not distorted your perception of truth, and had thus perceived yourself as lacking. The idea of order of needs arose because, having made this fundamental error, you had already fragmented yourself into levels with different needs. As you integrate you become one, and your needs become one accordingly. Unified needs lead to unified action, because this produces a lack of conflict.” A Course in Miracles T-1.VI.2:1-5

“As the Psalmist saith, ‘Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.’ It is indeed a city of the Spirit, fair, royal, and square. Northward, its gates open to the North Star, the Word, the polar magnet of Revelation; eastward, to the star seen by the Wisemen of the Orient, who followed it to the manger of Jesus; southward, to the genial tropics, with the Southern Cross in the skies, — the Cross of Calvary, which binds human society into solemn union; westward, to the grand realization of the Golden Shore of Love and the Peaceful Sea of Harmony.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 572:11